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How many Direct Payment hours do you get?

34 replies

RnB · 13/04/2005 10:58

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anniebear · 13/04/2005 11:02

I have just posted about D Payments. I shall be interested in your replies!

I just wanted to have somebody Babysit regulary so my DH and me can have a conversation now and again!! Also want some time in the dreaded School Hols.

Can I ask you what questions you were asked?

Do you know how long you now have to wait?

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Davros · 13/04/2005 11:05

I get 7hrs a week DPs. I use these to get someone to look after DD while I take DS swimming and trampolining (not on the same day!). So this isn't respite for me but I do it this way as the person who looks after DD is willing to be put on the DP system where she has to give her NI number etc and be treated as an employee. She does more hours than this but I pay this part with DPs and, as I pay her £8ph normally the DP rate of £8.10 works out well and is easy to administer. I do get respite as I have another girl who takes DS out every other Sunday and comes once a week after school but she isn't on the DP system and I pay her privately. Does this make sense?
What I mean is that I have a combination of care/help with DS and DD and just use DPs to pay for part of it.
I started out with only 2.5 hours a week DPs whcih seems to be the entry level here and I accepted it to get into the system. Its gone up slowly and we are due for an assessment soon. I'm a bit worried in case they decide to reduce it although its unlikely. I'm happy with my 7 hours but I might ask them about extra for holidays.

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RnB · 13/04/2005 11:08

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lou33 · 13/04/2005 11:08

we got turned down on the grounds they struggled to see how ds2 was disabled enough, and why having 3 other kids, an epileptic mum and only one driver, with no family to help out, would mean we could possibly need a break every 3 weeks.

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RnB · 13/04/2005 11:10

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RnB · 13/04/2005 11:11

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lou33 · 13/04/2005 11:12

yes i know. Thing is there was no point in appealing because he would be at school in sept, and it would probably take months to sort out.

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anniebear · 13/04/2005 11:13

Oh dear, if they came to mine Ellie would be an angel and they would think what a lovely little girl she is!! Which of course she is.....sometimes!!

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Merlot · 13/04/2005 11:18

What are direct payments? Are they something different to DLA and are they means tested?

that you were refused Lou

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Jimjams · 13/04/2005 11:29

5 hours a week during school term
15-18 hours a week during school hols

term hours can saved to be used during hols

this is what we were warded- we haven't actually received a penny yet!

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Davros · 13/04/2005 11:31

RnB, we were on 2.5hrs for about the first 6 months. We also had a "playworker" to take DS swimming every other week (only she didn't turn up half the time). Her job then disappeared and she transferred so I said what about that time then? And they added one hour a week for the next six months, so we were on 3.5 hrs. When it came to review, which is yearly, they foolishly mentioned the word "double", thinking wrongly that we were on 2.5 hours so I said, good that's 7 hours!!! They agreed as I showed that it was exactly the time I needed to do our 2 activities. I'd be happy to stay on that.
Lou, it stinks! As usual, it does seem to depend on who you get, where you live etc etc.
Merlot, this is totally separate from DLA. In the old days Soc Svs used to try to provide respite for families like us but they never had enough staff, not enough consistency etc and families often knew people they trusted and could use but not via Soc Svs. So DPs were brought in to enable us (and other disabled invididuals) to use our own people but be paid direct the equivalent amount that we would have got using Soc Svs respite. I think it only came in for disabled children about a year and a half ago but it has been available to other disabled people for longer.

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Davros · 13/04/2005 11:33

Oh yes, you can bank the hours so I could have 14 hours every 2 weeks iyswim. And if there's enough in your account you can use extra hours. You get paid more than the rate as it takes into account tax, holiday pay etc. I was informed that I had to pay a certain rate, then later I was told that I could increase the rate if I wanted. I asked so why do I have a choice now? No sensible answer. So I didn't increase the rate and just squeeze more hours out, heh heh.

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Jimjams · 13/04/2005 11:36

btw ss here do allow you to employ family members if they ok it.

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Davros · 13/04/2005 11:48

That's interesting Jimjams, ours state quite clearly that you can't use family members.
BTW, they won't give you any money until you do all the things I've put on the other thread BUT they should have told you that and have got you started on sorting it all out...

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RnB · 13/04/2005 11:53

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RnB · 13/04/2005 11:55

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Jimjams · 13/04/2005 12:02

they don't need to get the full amount rnb.

We were awarded it in January. But then we were forgotton. I receieved a letter this morning saying I should have heard more by now from such and such a person. but I haven't!

Davros- used to be the same here- but they actually listened to carers and changed the rules- so many people were having difficulty finding suitable carers- especially for autistic children.

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Davros · 13/04/2005 12:03

You can pay an ABA tutor, you would have to pay the hourly rate that Soc Svs tells you. The tax etc all gets worked out by the payroll company and, if they pay no tax, then that's what the pay slip will say. As I said before, they won't give you any money until you have someone who has done all the paperwork, you have your bank account ready etc. I lost 3 months as I couldn't bring myself to ask one of our ABA tutors to do it as I thought they'd find it off putting and be concerned that the IR might wonder what other work they are doing. It works well with our nanny-type girl as she already does all her tax etc as a self-employed person and this portion of her work is done on PAYE with me.

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heartinthecountry · 13/04/2005 12:06

Davros - I am sure I read something recently that said the rules about employing relatives with dp's had changed so that it IS now possible. I will hunt it out when I am at home.

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Davros · 13/04/2005 12:11

Thanks, because they should at least inform us if there has been a change..... not that I have any family members I could knobble!

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RnB · 13/04/2005 12:12

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Jimjams · 13/04/2005 12:17

davros I think it must vary from area to area as my friend employs her niece at a rate less (considerably) than that specified by SS!

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heartinthecountry · 13/04/2005 14:23

Hi RnB - we don't get dp's at the moment. tbh not sure we would get any as I work 2 days a week so that is my respite!! honestly, if they don't think Lou33 deserves them then there is no way we do.

Re ABA - we are getting there! think we have tutors now more or less sorted so just waiting for a workshop date.

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jayzmummy · 13/04/2005 14:32

I have had a long chat with SW this morning and he has offered to find us a family who can offer us some respite. I dont want to do this. I would just feel awful sending J away for the weekend. DS1 is going off to boarding school in Sept....so i know he will be escaping this madhouse we call home!!!! I really could do with some help and support and have chatted with hubby over lunch today about DP's.

So what do I do to apply for DP's. I know that one mum here applied and was visited by a social worker who told her that her son would have to be added to the "at risk" register if she wanted to go ahead with DP's. Is this the case????

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heartinthecountry · 13/04/2005 14:40

Jayzmummy - I am pretty certain that your child does not have to be put on the 'at risk' register to qualify for dps, infact I'm sure of it but I guess different areas may have different priorities.

I think, and I am sure Davros will know, that you now have the right to ask for DPs instead of services. So if they have offered you respite I think you are entitled to ask for the same provision but in DPs IYSWIM. But I am not sure on that. Can't remember if it is a recommendation for SS departments to offer DPs or an obligation.

I would call your SW back and say you aren't happy with sending J away for respite and could you have DPs instead. See what he says.

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